JavaBeans 101

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A JavaBean is a reusable software component that is written in the Java programming language. You write JavaBeans just as you write any other Java class. You can also take existing components, applets, or Java classes and turn them into JavaBeans.

This tutorial has two goals, it:

• Teaches the essentials for creating JavaBeans.
• Explains the basic concepts behind all JavaBeans and shows how these concepts relate to practical programming techniques.

In order to use this tutorial, you must have the following installed:

• Beans Development Kit (BDK)
• Java 2, Standard Edition (J2SE), version 1.3

Follow the installation instructions provided with the programs.

This tutorial does not replace the JavaBeans specification, but provides concrete examples and step-by-step guidelines for building and using JavaBeans. Read corresponding sections of the specification in conjunction with this tutorial. You might also find it helpful to study the example source code provided by the Bean Developer's Kit (BDK).

About the Author

Beth Stearns is the principal partner of ComputerEase Publishing, a computer consulting firm she founded in 1982. Her client list includes Sun Microsystems, Inc., Silicon Graphics, Inc., Oracle Corporation, and Xerox Corporation. Among her publications are the "Java Native Interface" chapter in "The Java Tutorial Continued" book in the Addison Wesley Java series, "The EJB Programming Guide" for Inprise Corporation, and "Understanding EDT", a guide to Digital Equipment Corporation's text editor. Most recently, she is co-author with Vlada Matena of the forthcoming Addison Wesley Java series book, "Applying Enterprise JavaBeans: Component-Based Development for the J2EE Platform".

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